If the plans are given the green light, more than 2,000 NHS workers, including porters, cleaners and clinical engineers, could be transferred to the new company.

But the proposed move has proved to be very controversial. Hospital employees, three trade unions and five Labour MPs have all made objections, as they are concerned that employees of the new company will endure worse working conditions than their NHS counterparts.

One unnamed employee, who works in the estates and facilities department, contacted Leeds City Council to raise concerns about the plans.

They said: "The majority of the workforce in the Estates & Facilities is against the proposed changes, as are the three major unions representing us, UNISON, Unite and GMB.

"The reason for our displeasure is the fact we will no longer work for the NHS trust but a company owned by it.

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"Even though it is stated we will be protected for 25 years, I do not understand how that can be guaranteed?

"As employers can change conditions for economic, technical or organisational reasons, which I am sure after a short period, the WOC would find a reason."

They added: "This would also create a two tier workforce within the trust."

The worried worker's comments were published in a report prepared for council's scrutiny board, which is due to discuss the plans and objections at a meeting on Tuesday, April 24.

Last month five Labour MPs wrote the the trust and urged them to scrap the proposals.

In a joint letter, they argued that forming a wholly owned subsidiary company is 'no solution' and said 'we must guard against decisions that see us sleepwalk in the direction of a US style private healthcare system'.

Leeds East MP Richard Burgon has described the proposals as 'disastrous' and he is opposing the move along with his fellow Leeds MPs Hilary Benn, Alex Sobel, Fabian Hamilton and Rachel Reeves.

Mr Burgon has also said 'we could see industrial action across the whole of West Yorkshire' if staff are transferred to this new company.

"We would be able to generate additional income and reinvest the surplus from this into patient services"

At a meeting in March, the trust's board agreed to carry out further consultation with staff about the controversial plans.

Simon Neville, director of strategy and planning for the trust, said it is also ready to 'explore some of the alternative suggestions' which have been made by staff and trade unions.

He added: “If we were to establish a subsidiary company, it would be 100 per cent owned by Leeds Teaching Hospitals and would be fully accountable to the trust board.

"By establishing a company to run a small number of non-clinical support services, we would be able to generate additional income and reinvest the surplus from this into patient services at Leeds Teaching Hospitals.

“Any staff transferring into the wholly owned subsidiary would do so on the same terms and conditions and would benefit from the same pension arrangements they have now.

“We are continuing to engage with staff and our trade union colleagues on all aspects of these proposals before any decisions are taken”

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